mission statement
To create a compassionate and open environment for all people interested in the study and practice of Zen; To offer a Zen Buddhist approach to religious practice and understanding as well as other meditative and spiritual practices to help relieve the suffering of oneself and others; To foster the transmission of Zen Buddhism to both lay and ordained students in a western context; and To offer a facility for these and other such activities as the board and teachers may deem appropriate. about the Three Treasures Zen Community
The name of our community has deep and special meaning. The Three Treasures refers to the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha. The sanskrit word Buddha means "The awakened one." Dharma literally means "carrying, holding," referring to the teaching, the universal laws. Sangha means "crowd, host," and refers to the community of people who practice together. In Buddhist communities, these Three Treasures or Jewels are a place of refuge and also the foundation of practice.
The Three Treasures are part of lay (jukai) and priest (tokudo) ordination, weddings and funerals. At the end of formal koan practice with Maezumi Roshi, the sixteen precepts were again reviewed in great detail. The first three precepts are the Three Treasures, from which flow the three pure precepts (do not be ignorant, do good, do good for others) and the ten grave precepts (do not kill, steal, misuse the senses, lie, be deluded, slander others, praise self, be possessive of the Teaching, harbor ill will, or abuse the Three Treasures.)
The Three Treasures Zen Community has evolved from a satellite sitting group (Jo Ren Zen Center) into a dynamic residential practice community with two locations for practice. Our community exists to provide a place of practice with the thorough appreciation that Zen training can be of real value to everyone, the level of commitment being determined by the participant's own pace, interest and aspiration. Dogen Zenji, the founder of Japanese Soto Zen, wrote in Genjokoan:
"To study the Buddha Way is to study oneself. To study oneself is to forget oneself. To forget oneself is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things. To be enlightened by the ten thousand things is to free one's body and mind and those of others. No trace of enlightenment remains, and this traceless enlightenment is continued forever..."
This is not an easy matter. For that reason, Zen practice uses skillful means such as meditation practice, intensive retreats, and working with a teacher, to help us clarify and truly appreciate our life.
Taking refuge in the Three Treasures, or Jewels, encourages us to be awake, to carry the teachings as ourselves, and the life of everyone and everything, and to the people with whom we interact in the manner of a respectful and thoughtful host. The Three Treasures Zen Community hopes to fulfill our commitment, with your help, to create a compassionate and open environment for all people interested in the study and practice of Zen.Nicolee Jikyo McMahon, Roshi
